The US and most of Europe recognize May 8th as the date of the defeat of the Germans in the European Theater (the Russians celebrate it on May 9th).  Therefore, it marks 70 years since that day, the day of the beginning of occupation of Germany, and of the start of shifting forces to the Pacfic Theater to finish off the war.  The defeat of the Japanese was not going to be easy, but a war-weary Allied people did take some time to celebrate.


German surrender document signed in Reims, France, May 7th, 1945:




"On this day in 1945, both Great Britain and the United States celebrate Victory in Europe Day. Cities in both nations, as well as formerly occupied cities in Western Europe, put out flags and banners, rejoicing in the defeat of the Nazi war machine.

The eighth of May spelled the day when German troops throughout Europe finally laid down their arms: In Prague, Germans surrendered to their Soviet antagonists, after the latter had lost more than 8,000 soldiers, and the Germans considerably more; in Copenhagen and Oslo; at Karlshorst, near Berlin; in northern Latvia; on the Channel Island of Sark—the German surrender was realized in a final cease-fire. More surrender documents were signed in Berlin and in eastern Germany."

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victory-in-europe


Times Square, May 8th, 1945:




"Upon the defeat of Germany, celebrations erupted throughout the world. From Moscow to Los Angeles, people celebrated. In the United Kingdom, more than one million people celebrated in the streets to mark the end of the European part of the war. In London, crowds massed in Trafalgar Square and up the Mall to Buckingham Palace, where King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, accompanied by Prime Minister Winston Churchill, appeared on the balcony of the palace before the cheering crowds. Princess Elizabeth (the future Queen Elizabeth II) and her sister Princess Margaret were allowed to wander incognito among the crowds and take part in the celebrations.

In the United States, the victory happened on President Harry Truman's 61st birthday. He dedicated the victory to the memory of his predecessor, Franklin D. Roosevelt, who had died of a cerebral hemorrhage less than a month earlier, on 12 April. Flags remained at half-mast for the remainder of the 30-day mourning period. Truman said of dedicating the victory to Roosevelt's memory and keeping the flags at half-mast that his only wish was "that Franklin D. Roosevelt had lived to witness this day." Later that day, Truman said that the victory made it his most enjoyable birthday.

Massive celebrations also took place in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and especially in New York's Times Square."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victory_in_Europe_Day


Crowds outside Buckingham Palace:





VE Day, May 8th 1945:

https://youtu.be/psgYiOU-3iU





Historic Archival Stock Footage WWII - Germany Surrenders - World Celebrates V-E Day!

https://youtu.be/Z84qcCB9lyg





HD Historic Stock Footage WWII V-E DAY - GERMANY SURRENDERS!

https://youtu.be/m3FUdB86OG0

Good book is The Day The War Ended In Europe.